J Serra Unveils Beautiful New Mural, Funded through Educator Impact Grant
At Junipero Serra Elementary, Community School Coordinator Nisha Kapadia used a school-wide Educator Impact Grant to bring students, staff, and families together to create a large mosaic mural celebrating the school’s diversity and creativity. In partnership with the Create Peace Project, the mural engaged the entire school community in a hands-on, collaborative process that centered student voice and creativity.
“We are grateful to the SF Ed Fund for awarding us the Educator Impact Grant which helped make this project possible,” said Principal Katerina Palomares. “May [this mural] remind us every day of the peace, kindness, strength and beauty that each and everyone brings to our diverse community. May we continue to remember that each and everyone is welcome and belongs to this community.”
Students, teachers, staff, and families all took part in designing and assembling the mural, fostering pride, ownership, and a deeper sense of belonging across campus. Designed in collaboration with students from TK through fifth grade, the mural unfolds vertically, with younger students’ contributions at the bottom and older students’ work rising toward the top.
Mosaic tiling began on January 12 and took place over the course of two weeks, with parents and staff helping to finalize the piece on January 22 and 23. Over the weekend, artists from the Create Peace Project completed the final installation, and on Monday morning, January 26, students arrived to find the finished mural on the wall — a joyful surprise and a reason to celebrate.
For Kapadia, the mural reflects both the identity of the school and the core values of a community school. “This mural represents who we are as a school community and as a community school: many voices, many stories, coming together to create something meaningful and lasting,” she said. “Every piece reflects a student’s idea, background, or perspective, and together they form a shared story that says: you belong here, and you are seen.”
She shared that one of the most meaningful aspects of the project was watching students, families, and staff work side by side toward a common goal — not just creating art, but building relationships. The process itself mirrored the school’s values of collaboration and shared ownership, giving students a tangible way to shape their environment and see themselves reflected in their school.
“When students walk past it, they can point to a color, a shape, or an idea and know that they had a hand in shaping their school,” Kapadia added.
“This is amazing. Two hundred eighty [students] – along with teachers, parents, and staff – helped create this mural, and it’s going to be here forever,” said Ross Holzman, Executive Director of the Create Peace Project, at the unveiling. “Thank you for sharing your ideas and contributions. I’m really proud of what you did to beautify your school.”
Students felt that sense of pride and belonging deeply. Fourth grader Gisela shared, “I felt included, like my life is better. I feel that kids and everyone helped each other. We feel like we are all included instead of being alone because of teamwork.”
The mural stands as a vibrant, lasting symbol of Junipero Serra’s shared identity — a joyful reminder that creativity, collaboration, and community can transform a school space. More than a piece of art, it reflects the voices, identities, and shared accomplishments of every member of the Junipero Serra community.
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The SF Ed Fund has distributed $200,000 in Educator Impact Grants to teachers and school staff across SFUSD this school year. These grants empower educators to design and lead innovative projects that make a meaningful difference in their school communities — fostering belonging, improving attendance, supporting social and emotional learning, and strengthening teacher retention. Read more about funded 2025-26 Educator Impact Grant projects here.
